Battle for Mosul Day 2: “Forces are advancing”

At the end of the second day in the campaign to liberate Mosul from ISIS, it seems that troops are advancing quicker than expected. Yet it is estimated that the battle could last for two months. Iraq fears Turkish intervention and quarrels between the different forces fighting in the battlefield.

Thousands of troops including soldiers from the Iraqi and Turkish militaries, Peshmerga and Kurdish fighters, the Sunni militia and the Assyrians are advancing towards Mosul much quicker than expected. The strategic Iraqi city contains between 4,000 to 8,000 ISIS terrorists that are determined to prevent these forces from recapturing Mosul.

Sirwan Barzani, a Kurdish Peshmerga force commander, estimated today in an interview with CNN that the fighting could continue for two months. According to him, the only problem that could potentially delay their war schedule would be weather.

Barzani also estimated that it could take the large number of troops surrounding Mosul about two weeks to enter the city. However, according the Iraqi Prime Minister’s directions, only Iraqi soldiers and local security force officers will be allowed to enter Mosul as there is a fear that ethnic chaos could break out.